Blackfoot High gets new principal

April 30, 2011

BLACKFOOT â€”Trustees of the Blackfoot School District has hired a new principal at Blackfoot High School. In January, former Principal Blaine McInelly took a medical leave of absence until the end of this school year, at which point he will retire.
The Blackfoot School Board of Trustees approved the hiring on John Pearce at their meeting Thursday night. He will officially begin his duties as principal July 28.
Pearce,â€”who has been an administrator at secondary schools in Little Rock, Ark. for the past 12 yearsâ€”was one of seven candidates interviewed by a 10-member interview committee consisting of community members, district administration and Blackfoot High School staff members.
"I was very happy with the community process and the applications we received," Superintendent Scott Crane said.
Pearce graduated from Pocatello High School in 1991 and received his bachelor's degree in secondary education in chemistry and mathematics from Idaho State University in 1996.
He then received his Master's of Secondary Education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1999. He served as an assistant principal and principal at four schools in the Pulaski County Special School District in Little Rock, Ark. from 1999 to the present.
"This is going to be a great opportunity to move back to Southeast Idaho," Pearce said. "I'm excited to be a Bronco."
Pearce said he plans to work with district officials and fellow administrators at the high school to improve student achievement and he looks forward to learning more about the district and the high school.
"My goal is to do anything I can do to complement the existing programs," Pearce said.
He's also anxious to meet the teachers, students and community at Blackfoot High School.
"I love having the opportunity to get to know my community," he said.
Pearce will take over duties from Ben Speelmon, a consultant hired by the school district to complete the school year in McInelly's absence.